Chris Phelan
Encyclopedia
Chris Phelan is an Australian former rugby league
footballer of the 1980s. He was a state representative versatile forward for Queensland
and a two-time New South Wales Rugby League premiership
-winner with the Parramatta Eels
.
Phelan was born in Ireland. Immensely strong for his size, the Townsville forward was playing for Brisbane's Southern Suburbs club when he first was first selected for Queensland
at lock in all three games of the 1981 interstate series. Phelan was the Brisbane Rugby League premierships Rothmans Medal
winner that year and also won the Grand Final with Souths.
Phelan signed to Sydney's defending premiers Parramatta
in 1982. He had to sit out the start of the 1982 while Parramatta waged a battle with the Queensland Rugby League
over his transfer fee.
He played at prop in the Eels' two Grand Final wins over Manly in 1982 and 1983 but moved to the second-row for the 6-4 loss in the 1984 decider against Canterbury
. In 1984 he was recalled to the Queensland side for game III of the State of Origin
series where he appeared at second-row.
After a season with Oldham
in England, Phelan returned to his home state in 1985 and continued playing with Souths, helping them to victory in the 1985 Brisbane Rugby League grand final.
In 2008 he was named in the Souths Magpies team of the century.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1980s. He was a state representative versatile forward for Queensland
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
and a two-time New South Wales Rugby League premiership
New South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
-winner with the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
.
Phelan was born in Ireland. Immensely strong for his size, the Townsville forward was playing for Brisbane's Southern Suburbs club when he first was first selected for Queensland
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
at lock in all three games of the 1981 interstate series. Phelan was the Brisbane Rugby League premierships Rothmans Medal
Rothmans Medal
The Rothmans Medal was the premier individual award in both the New South Wales Rugby League and Brisbane Rugby League competitions, and later in the Australian Rugby League, which was given to the player voted by referees as the best and fairest in those competitions for that year.The award was...
winner that year and also won the Grand Final with Souths.
Phelan signed to Sydney's defending premiers Parramatta
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
in 1982. He had to sit out the start of the 1982 while Parramatta waged a battle with the Queensland Rugby League
Queensland Rugby League
The Queensland Rugby Football League is the governing body for rugby league in Queensland. It is a member of the Australian Rugby League and selects the members of Queensland State of Origin teams....
over his transfer fee.
He played at prop in the Eels' two Grand Final wins over Manly in 1982 and 1983 but moved to the second-row for the 6-4 loss in the 1984 decider against Canterbury
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
. In 1984 he was recalled to the Queensland side for game III of the State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
series where he appeared at second-row.
After a season with Oldham
Oldham Roughyeds
Oldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....
in England, Phelan returned to his home state in 1985 and continued playing with Souths, helping them to victory in the 1985 Brisbane Rugby League grand final.
In 2008 he was named in the Souths Magpies team of the century.